I'm so proud to see such a prominent presence in K-pop.

BTS leader RM (real name Kim Nam-joon) delivered a keynote speech in English at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit held at the Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongsangbuk-do on the 29th. This marked the first time a K-pop singer has spoken at the event.

RM began, "I am honored to have the opportunity to introduce myself and share my message with you, the key figures of APEC, in the Republic of Korea, where I was born and raised. As a creator, I feel a deep sense of pride and anticipation, especially with the fact that 'cultural industries' have been elevated to the core agenda of APEC for the first time this year."

Recalling their early days of international promotions, they said, "The barriers to entry for broadcasting stations were high and rugged. But we couldn't just wait around, so we danced and sang on the streets, handing out flyers for free concerts." They continued, "The key force that broke down this enormous barrier was ARMY. They used our music as a medium to communicate across borders and languages, and surprised the world with voluntary donations and social campaigns." They expressed their gratitude to their fans.

Thanks to RM, our ARMYs are more honored

It's great to see Korea represented on the world stage.

I find myself completely absorbed in the speech.